Capri is an island that reveals itself quickly and discloses its depths slowly. Between the Blue Grotto, the Gardens of Augustus, and Villa San Michele, a vivid impression can be formed in just a few hours, yet the island's true depth lies beyond these landmarks: in its Greco-Roman past, in the botanical particularities of the Mediterranean macchia, and in the interplay between Naples, Anacapri, and the Faraglioni. For those who want to experience this second Capri, Cecilia Barbara Walch serves as a knowledgeable companion who has known the island for over three decades and opens it up through Capri Travel Guide with a German-speaking team of state-certified guides.
30 Years of Island Life
Cecilia Barbara Walch was born in Innsbruck and has lived on Caprisince 1994. She has held her state license as a guide for Campania since 1999, and over the years she has complemented it with an exceptional breadth of continuing education: archaeology and art history, ancient Pompeii, geodynamics and volcanology in Campania, Renaissance painting at the Museo Capodimonte, the urban development of Naples through the 19th century, a C2 certification in English, and most recently an award for botany in the monastery gardens of Naples.
What at first glance may appear to be an academic accumulation has a very practical core. A tour that moves between history and the present, explains Vesuvius, and contextualizes an ancient fresco cycle requires more than a license. It requires continuity, and that is precisely what Cecilia demonstrates through one training course after another.
Tailored Tours
Rather than following a rigid itinerary, Cecilia and her team tailor every excursion to the guests' interests, fitness level, and available travel time. The focus is on culture and history, while the format remains flexible. Classic full-day tours covering both sides of the island lead from the Piazzetta through the Gardens of Augustus up to Anacapri, with a stop at the Villa San Michele of Swedish physician and author Axel Munthe and a ride on the chairlift to Monte Solaro. For those who prefer a thematic approach, options include formats dedicated to botany, religion, Caravaggio, or, under the title "Mystical Naples," a perspective on the region beyond its tourist clichés.
The choice of transportation is equally flexible. Bus, convertible taxi, or a boat trip along the coast, depending on the weather, group size, and preference. Along the way, details consistently emerge that a standard tour would overlook: the majolica floor of the church of San Michele in Anacapri, the story of the German painter August Kopisch, who rediscovered the entrance to the Blue Grotto in 1826, or Capri's role as a retreat for Emperor Tiberius, whose palace Villa Jovis stands today as a ruin overlooking the sea.
On Foot and From the Water
For those who prefer an active experience, there is a well-developed program of hiking routes. On the Capri side, the Pizzo Lungo trail passes by Arco Naturale and Grotta Matermania before reaching Punta Tragara, while the more demanding Passetiello climbs from the town center through a pine forest up to Monte Solaro. On the Anacapri side, routes such as the Fortini path wind along historic watchtowers between the lighthouse and the Blue Grotto, or the Anacapri-Migliera-Faro route leads to Italy's second-largest lighthouse.
From the water, Capri presents itself in an entirely different light. A boat tour around the island, whether private or as part of a public excursion, opens up the stalactite grottos, runs along the Faraglioni rocks, and makes the Blue Grotto accessible whenever sea conditions permit. Combined with a guided tour on land, this creates a day on which Capri becomes visible from multiple angles, without any of the individual stops feeling like an obligation.
Not Just Capri: A View of Campania
The offerings extend well beyond the island itself. The portfolio includes guided tours of Naples focusing on museums and history, archaeological day trips to Pompeii and Herculaneum, hikes up Vesuvius, excursions to the Amalfi Coast, and visits to the Reggia di Caserta and its monumental park. For families, there are child-friendly Pompeii tours framed as a "journey back to antiquity"; for guests with limited mobility, wheelchair-accessible tours with appropriate transfers are available.
This regional breadth is more than an add-on option. Capri only makes sense from a cultural-historical perspective in relation to the Gulf of Naples , its cuisine stands in the tradition of Amalfi, Sorrento, and the bay itself, and classics such as the Caprese di Bufala with DOP mozzarella trace their origins to this very region. Anyone who looks at the island in isolation misses these connections.
A Team of Native German Speakers
Over the years, Cecilia has built a team of predominantly German-speaking tour guides living in Campania. All are state-certified, registered in the directory of the Italian Ministry of Tourism, and members of the national association ANGT . Depending on the topic, region, and guests' preferences, the most suitable guide is assigned, with pickup available directly at the hotel or cruise terminal. Additional services are available to ease a short stay in an unfamiliar region: transportation arrangements, advice on museum and excavation opening hours, accommodation recommendations across various categories, and the organization of conference or corporate trips.
